Janice Combs, the mother of embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, is facing a lawsuit alleging she secretly took control of a 25% ownership stake in Bad Boy Entertainment (BBE) that originally belonged to co-founder Kirk Burrowes.
Filed Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Manhattan federal court, the lawsuit accuses Janice of “fraudulent concealment” in an alleged scheme dating back to the late 1990s.
Burrowes, who co-founded Bad Boy and once served as its president, claims he only recently uncovered “irrefutable evidence” that in or around 1998, Janice Combs unlawfully assumed control of his stake in the label.
He alleges that she conspired with her son to deprive him of his rightful share while falsely assuring him over the years that she was uninvolved and would help him reclaim his ownership.
The lawsuit follows a previous legal battle in which Burrowes accused Sean Combs of coercing him into signing over his stake under duress in 1996. That claim, which included allegations that Combs wielded a baseball bat to intimidate him, was dismissed due to the statute of limitations.
However, Burrowes’ new lawsuit argues that the deception by Janice Combs was concealed for decades, justifying his delayed legal action.
According to the 53-page filing obtained by Rolling Stone, Janice Combs “carefully maintained a facade of integrity, portraying herself as an innocent bystander while orchestrating [Burrowes’] financial and professional downfall behind the scenes.”
He further claims that she continued to communicate with him in a manner that suppressed any opportunity to reclaim his ownership.
Burrowes also alleges that as recently as 2021, Janice sought his expertise in developing a historical documentary on Bad Boy’s legacy, promising compensation that was never delivered. He asserts that he was ultimately left “blacklisted” and “destitute.”
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Tyrone Blackburn, seeks compensatory damages equivalent to the value of Burrowes’ 25% stake or the return of his ownership interest.
Additionally, he is requesting an independent audit of Bad Boy Entertainment’s earnings and punitive damages for alleged unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.
Janice Combs has not commented on the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Sean Combs remains in federal custody in Brooklyn, facing unrelated criminal charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering.
